Pleasure-car for gravity-railways



No. 620,4!5. Patented Feb. 28, was.

M. 6. CAMPBELL. PLEASURE CAR FOR GRAVITY RAILWAYS, 81.0.

(Application filed 1500. 12, 1895. Renewed Nov. 25, 1896.)

(N0 llodol.) 4 {Sheets-Sheet I.

Witnesses.

Attorney.

"m: NORRIS PETERS co. vnoroumu. wnsnmurou. o. c.

No. 620,4l5. Patented Feb. 28, I899. M. C. CAMPBELL. PLEASURE GAB FOR GRAVITY BAILWAYS. 8m.

(Application flied Dec. 12, i895. Renewed. Nov. 25, 1896.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(in Model.)

Inventor.

Witnesses.

Attorney.

'rm'. uonms virus on, Pv-lo'roumu. WASHINGTON, o. c

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MATTHEW C. CAMPBELL, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVA-FTIA.

PLEASURE-CAR FOR GRAVITY-RAILWAYS, 80C.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 620,415, dated February 28, 1899. Application filed December 12, 1895. Renewed November 25,1896. $erial No. 613,469. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-v

Be it known that I, MATTHEW 0. CAMP- BELL, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pleasure- Oars for Gravity-Railways, &c., of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a car or conveyance of novel, attractive, and efficient construction for use more especially on inclined planes or gravity-railways; and to this end the invention comprehends a hollow or barrel-like body adapted to run upona trackway, an internally-arranged seat within said body, and externally-arranged devices connected with said seat and adapted to run upon the trackway to maintain the seat positively in position relative to the trackway during the revolution of said body.

, The invention also comprehends various features of construction and arrangement of parts, which will be hereinafter particularly described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation, and Fig. 2 a plan, of a type of gravityrailway upon which my improved pleasurecar is or may be operated. Fig. 3 is an end view of said car. Fig. 4 is a side elevation thereof, showing in transverse section the trackway upon which the car is supported. Fig. 5 is a detail in end view of the seat and one ofits supporting-arms. Fig. 6 is a partial vertical section of one end of the car, as on the line as o: of Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a similar section, on a larger scale, through the end of the seat and adjuncts. Fig. 8 is a transverse section through one of the seat-sustaining trunnions and the supporting-arms, as on the line y 'y of Fig. 7.

In Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings I .have shown for purposes of illustration a type of gravity-railway, so called, in connection with which my improved car may be used. This railway comprises two platforms A B, of the same height, or substantially so,supported at a suitable distance apart and connected by two longitudinally-arranged trackways a a. Each of the trackways is, generally speaking, double-inclined-that is, it has a descending portion a and an ascendingportion a to the end that when the car is started uponthe trackway from the platform A it will descend the portion a, and in virtue of the momentum acquired in its descent the car will ascend the portion a to and come to rest upon a point a near the summit of the latter, whereupon the car may be pushed or drawn up to the platform B preparatory to being returned to the platform A by way of the adjacent trackway.

On each of the platforms is a turn-table C, by means of which the car maybe transferred from one trackway to the other in the usual manner.

The trackways are provided at intervals with plane or undulating portions a which vary the motion of the descending cars, and thus add to the pleasure of the ride.

D designates my improved car, the bodyd of which is constructed in the form of a large barrel with end heads removed. Surrounding this body at proper intervals apart are two flanged hoops or rings d, which-constitute in effect tires to run upon the rails of.

the trackway. On the ends of the barrel are radial arms 01 which support central hubs 61 respectively, for the reception of trunnionsd Depending from the inner ends of the trunnions are arms at, by and between which is supported within the barrel, below the center thereof, a longitudinally-disposed seat (1 On the outwardly-extending portions of each of the trunnions are secured two L-shaped arms d the lower or horizontal limbs l of which extend in opposite directions, such limbs of the arms on one end of the barrel being connected by means of parts of the arms on the opposite end of the barrel, so as to constitute frames which emshafts or axles d with the corresponding traversing an irregular or undulating portion of the trackway, I provide for the independent movement within certain limits of the wheel-supporting framesthat is to say, the hubs of one of the frames are loosely mounted on the trunnions,.while the hubs of the other frame are keyed or otherwise affixed to the trunnions. The opposing faces of the hubs on each trunnion are oppositely recessed or offset, as at 2, so as to interlock, the ofiset portions being slightly greater than the projecting portions of the hubs, to the end that the loosely-mounted frame will be axially movable on the trunnions independently of the other frame, while such other frame (together with the seat) will be correspondinglymovable in respect to the loosely-mounted frame.

As a means to obviate all liability of the occupants of the traveling carriage accidentally falling therefrom or of their limbs coming into contact with the revolving arms (1 on the barrel, I provide the ends of the barrel inwardly of said arms with heads of open network or other reticulated material. Each of these heads is made in two halves or sections 6 e,

one, 6, of which is affixed to the barrel, while the other, e, is fitted to an annular groove 8 in the latter, to the end that the part 6 may be slid around to present an opening for ready access to or exit from the barrel or to close said opening when the barrel is occupied.

I claim- 1. The combination',with an inclined trackway, of a car therefor comprisinga hollow or barrel-like body provided with circumferential tires to run upon the trackway, an internally-arranged seat within said body, and externally-arranged devices connected with said seat and adapted to run upon the trackway forwardly and rearwardly of the center of said body to maintain the seat positively in position relative to the trackway during the rotation of the said body, substantially as described.

2. The combination with an inclined trackway, including parallel rails, of a car therefor comprising a hollow or barrel-like body provided with flanged hoops or rings adapted to run upon said rails, an internally-arranged seat within said body, and externallyarranged frames connected with said seat and extending forwardly and rearwardly of the center of said body, flanged wheels arranged on each of said frames in line with the adjacent hoops or rings and adapted to run on said rails, substantially as described.

3. The combination with an inclined trackway, including parallel rails, of a car therefor comprising a hollow or barrel-like body provided with circumferential tires adapted to run upon said rails, centrally-supported bearings on the ends of said body, trunnions in said bearings, an internally-arranged seat suspended from said trunnions, exterior arms connected with said trunnions and extending forwardly and rearwardly of the center of said body, shafts or axles on said arms, and wheels on said shaft-s or axles arranged in line with the adjacent tires and adapted to run therewith upon the said rails, substanshaped arms whereof the lower limbs are connected by shafts or axles carrying wheels adapted to run on the trackway, forwardly and rearwardly of the center of said body, substantially as set forth.

5. Acar of the character described, consisting in the combination of a hollow or barrel like body adapted to roll upon a trackway and provided with centrally-arranged end bearings,trunnions in said bearings, an internally-arranged seat suspended from said trun nions, frames on said trunnions embracing the ends and sides of said body and carrying wheels adapted to run on the trackway, said frames being movable in respect to each other on the trunnions, substantially as set forth.

6. A car of the character described, consisting in the combination of a hollow or barrel like body adapted to roll upon a trackway, a seat within said body, means for maintaining said seat below the axis of the body, and

a sectional end head on said body, substantially as set forth.

7. Acar of the character described, consist ing of a hollow or barrel-like body adapted to vroll upon a trackway, and provided with centrally-arranged end bearings, trunnions in said bearings, an internally-arranged seat suspended from said trunnions, and forwardly and rearwardly extending frames on said body carrying wheels adapted to run on the trackway, the adjacent hubs of said frames being oppositely offset and interlocked, those of one frame being loosely mounted on the trunnions and those of the other frame being affixed to the trunnions, substantially as set forth.

8. A car of the character described, consisting in the combination of a hollow or barrellike body adapted to roll upon a trackway, arms on the ends of said body supporting central bearings, trunnions in said bearings, an internally-arranged seat suspended from said trunnions, means to maintain said seat below the axis of the body, and end heads on said body arranged inwardly of the said arms, substantially as set forth.

9. A car of the character described, consisting in the combination of a hollow or barrellike body adaptedto roll upon a trackway, a seat within said body, means to maintain said seat below the axis of the body, and a sectional end head on said body whereof a section is fitted to an annular way in the latter lower limbs whereof are connected by shafts so as to be independently movable around or axles carrying wheels adapted-to run on therein, substantially as set forth. the trackway, and end heads on said body I 5 10. A car of the character described, conarranged inwardly of the arms first named,

5 sisting in the combination of a hollow or barsubstantially as described.

rel-like body adapted to roll upon a trackway, In testimony whereof I have hereunto afarms on the ends of said body supporting cenfixed my signature in the presence of two subtral bearings, trunnions in said bearings, an scribing witnesses.

internally-arranged seat suspended from said MATTHEW C. CAMPBELL. I0 trunnions, forwardly and rearwardly extencl- Witnesses:

ing frames on said trunnions comprising, on JOHN R. NOLAN,

each end of said body, L-shapcd arms the ANDREW V. GROUPE. 

